Mahmoud Suliman, a 25-year-old entrepreneur, founded Neulink to tackle inefficiencies in pharmacy management after frustrating experiences with healthcare systems.
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Jul 31, 2026 ALN: Dubai: A clinic visit that stretched from 11 am until 3.30 pm gave two Dubai entrepreneurs the idea for a healthcare technology business designed to reduce the time doctors, pharmacists, and patients lose to outdated systems. This experience highlighted a critical issue in the healthcare sector—inefficiencies in pharmacy management that can frustrate both healthcare providers and patients.
Sreecharan, co-founder of Neulink, visited a well-known clinic for severe neck pain and migraines, but repeated registration failures and system crashes delayed the consultation before it began. Such experiences are not uncommon in healthcare settings, where reliance on outdated technology can lead to significant delays and miscommunication. This incident underscored the need for a more streamlined and efficient approach to healthcare management.
“The doctor was not diagnosing the patient; he was troubleshooting software,” Mahmoud Suliman, Neulink’s 25-year-old Sudanese co-founder, said. This statement reflects a growing concern among healthcare professionals that administrative tasks and technical issues often overshadow patient care. The focus should ideally be on patient diagnosis and treatment rather than on resolving technical difficulties that should be handled by robust systems.
A separate experience at a hospital soon revealed another problem. Medication was available on the pharmacy shelf, but the system listed it as out of stock, leading to a 45-minute delay before the insurance claim was processed. Such discrepancies between physical inventory and system records can lead to unnecessary delays in patient care and can potentially jeopardize patient health if medications are not dispensed in a timely manner.
“When we compared our stories, we realised this was not a one-off issue. Dispensing medication is slow everywhere, and pharmacies are running on solutions that were never built for the speed healthcare demands today. That is what pushed us to build Neulink.” This realization prompted the co-founders to take action and develop a solution that could address these systemic inefficiencies.
From solar engineering to healthcare technology
Born and raised in the UAE, Sreecharan holds a Bachelor of Technology degree in Solar and Alternate Energy and began experimenting with business ideas while studying at university. His educational background in technology provided him with a foundation to understand the technical aspects of healthcare systems, which would later play a crucial role in the development of Neulink.
He designed and fabricated a solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle with a batchmate and later launched an online auction-based marketplace as his first company. These entrepreneurial ventures not only honed his business acumen but also equipped him with the skills necessary to navigate the complexities of starting a new venture. He was also selected among the top 25 Ideators at the Hello Business Pitch 3 by e&. This recognition provided him with valuable exposure and networking opportunities within the startup ecosystem.
Entrepreneurship was familiar at home, with his father running a law firm in the UAE, although his original plan was to secure a job in his field after graduation. This familial background likely influenced his entrepreneurial spirit and provided him with insights into the business landscape in the UAE.
That changed when he began selling sought-after luxury products during his final year and found that he enjoyed working directly with customers. This experience underscored the importance of understanding customer needs and preferences, a lesson that would prove invaluable as he transitioned into the healthcare sector.
“That is when I realised I wanted to build something of my own,” he said. This pivotal moment marked the beginning of his journey into entrepreneurship, leading him to co-found Neulink and address the pressing issues in pharmacy management.
Grants funded the first product
Neulink initially relied on grants received from the Ministry of Education and the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority after the co-founders won pitching competitions. These grants provided essential funding that allowed them to move from concept to execution, demonstrating the importance of support from governmental and regulatory bodies in fostering innovation.
Money from the founder’s previous venture was added to those grants, allowing the team to develop a minimum viable product and begin pilots with retail pharmacies. This phase was crucial for gathering feedback and refining their product to better meet the needs of users in real-world settings.
The company received its first external cheque after joining the Sanabil Accelerator by Orbit Ventures, an achievement the founder considers Neulink’s biggest success so far. Joining an accelerator program often provides startups with mentorship, resources, and networking opportunities that can significantly enhance their growth prospects.
“Joining the Sanabil Accelerator by Orbit Ventures validated what we are building and gave us access to the Saudi market at a stage where that kind of exposure matters most,” Suliman said. The Saudi market represents a significant opportunity for growth in the healthcare sector, and entering this market could pave the way for Neulink to expand its reach and impact.
Learning healthcare from scratch
Neither founder had a medical background, requiring them to understand how pharmacies operate, how different healthcare entities interact, and how regulations vary between markets. This lack of prior experience in healthcare highlights the challenges that many entrepreneurs face when entering a new industry. However, it also demonstrates their commitment to learning and adapting to meet the needs of their target market.
Support from the Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund has helped the company engage with government and enterprise organisations to present and implement its ideas. Such collaborations can be instrumental in navigating regulatory landscapes and ensuring that their solutions align with industry standards.
The founder said the UAE’s startup ecosystem gave entrepreneurs the opportunity to test ideas and build businesses, while Dubai was the natural location for Neulink because it was where he was born and first encountered the problem the company is trying to solve. The vibrant startup ecosystem in Dubai, characterized by access to funding, mentorship, and a diverse talent pool, has made it an attractive destination for entrepreneurs.
The pull of a regular job
The founder has never held a full-time nine-to-five job, although he completed a three-month internship at a Dubai Electricity and Water Authority subsidiary. This experience likely provided him with insights into corporate structures and operational efficiencies, which he could apply to his own venture.
A conventional career occasionally appeared more attractive during periods when Neulink’s progress was difficult to see, but he continued working towards the targets set by the founding team. This determination highlights the resilience required by entrepreneurs in the face of challenges and uncertainties.
Neulink’s five-year goal is to become the region’s leading end-to-end pharmacy management platform. Achieving this goal will require continuous innovation, adaptation to market needs, and effective marketing strategies to attract users.
His advice to other founders is to focus on a genuine customer need and choose a co-founder who shares the same ambition for the business. This advice underscores the importance of collaboration and shared vision in building a successful startup.
“Build something that people want and keep pushing towards it. Doubt is something you will come across, but it should not be the reason you stop.” This perspective reflects the common challenges faced by entrepreneurs and the need for perseverance in the face of obstacles. Neulink’s journey is a testament to the importance of innovation in addressing real-world problems and the potential for startups to reshape industries through technology.
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